Tenter clip



Nov. 19, 1929. J. H. WILLIAMS 1,736,686

TENTER CLIP Filed March 5, 1929 1 6 c V 8 36 7A 1 Z2 Z0 18 (W 7%WVFNTOR.

ATTORNEY,

Patented Nov. 19, 1929 UNITED STATES JOHN H. WILLIAMS, 0]? PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND TENTER CLIP Application filed March 5, 1929.

This invention relates to improvements in tentering machines and is directed particullfarly to web clamping devices or clips there- As is well known tentering machines consist essentially of endless chains formed by linked together clips which grip the edges of a web, the chains. being arranged so that parallel inner runs thereof grip opposite edges of a web to carry the web forwardly through the machine.

The clips usually comprise a body provided with a plate and a clamp bar pivoted thereabove so that a lower side thereof may engage and hold an edge of a web against the plate. The clamp bar is made longer than the distance from the pivot to the plate so that its lower web engaging end will not swing past the plate. In web clamping position the clamp bar assumes a somewhat non-vertical position for the clamping action.

As the lower clamping surface of the clamp bar soon wears, it will swing past the plate so that the clamping action is lost. To correct this it is often necessary to disassemble the chains, formed by the clips and then either replace the clamp bars with new and longer ones or bend the body of the clip to shorten the distance between the pivot thereof and the plate so the worn and shorter clamp bar will function as before.

The object of this invention is. the provision of a clip of the class described which will obviate the difficulties and objections mentioned. This is accomplished according to the novel features thereof by providing a clamp bar provided with a plurality of web engaging faces arranged and adapted so that a worn face is replaced by a fresh one for the clamping function.

Various other objects. and advantages will be observed from the following description of the preferred form of the invention, it being understood that various changes may be made in the construction without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the invention will now be described in connection with the perspective view.

A. body 2 is provided which has suitable Serial No. 344,326v

apertures in opposite ends so that a plurality of the clips may be linked together to form a tenter chain. Portions 4t and 6 are spaced apart to form an open throat 8 therebetween. The upper side 10 0f the portion 4 may serve as a support and clamping surface for an edge of a web W or if desired a clamp plate 12 may be fixed thereto in any convenient manner.

. A clamp bar C is pivoted at 14: to the portions 6 for engaging the upper side of a web and clamping it to the plate 12. The lower web engaging end 14 of the clamp bar according to one feature of the invention is provided with a plurality of web engaging faces or surfaces. 18, 20 and 22, which are formed on spaced apart ribs or ridges 24 and 26. The ribs and their faces are preferably arranged so that the faces are substantially an equal distance from the pivot 14-. The said distance from the pivot to the faces is preferably greater than the shortest distance from the pivot to the plate so that normally the clamp bar as shown will not swing across the plate. Under these conditions as a web is inserted between the clamp bar and plate an outward pulling tendency of the web will cause the clamp bar to press the web onto the plate and clamp itand prevent displacement thereof from the clamp.

As one face or surface like 18 wears so that the clamp bar is shorter so as to swing past or across the plate and whereby the clamping.

action is lost the adjacent face 20 comes into play to replace the worn face 18 for the clamping function. In this way a worn face is immediately replaced by a fresh one so that it is not necessary to replace the clamp bar or bend the portion 6 of the body towards the portion 4 thereof. In fact by means of the novel arrangement it is not even necessary to stop the operation of a chain formed by clips embodying the invention as any difficulty caused by the wearing of the clamp bar is overcome automatically.

It is obvious that as many ribs and clamping faces may be employed as may be desired. It will be equally obvious that the form of the ribs may vary within wide ranges to adapt the invention to various uses and provide the renewing feature.

Therefore I do not wish to be limited by the foregoing description which refers to the embodiment of the invention at present preferred but rather, if at all, by the appended claiIns.

What I claim and desire to secure as broadly as the law will allow is:

1. A tenter clip comprising in combination, a body having a plate portion for supporting a web, a clamp bar pivotally connected to said body above said plate portion having a free end depending towards said plate and disposed thereover for clamping a web to said plate the free end of said bar being provided with alternate ridges and grooves and the said ridges being equidistant,

from said pivotal connection, the said pivotal connection of said clamp bar and body being located at a certain perpendicular distance from said plate portion and the said ridges being disposed at a greater distance from the pivotal connection than said certain per-V 2Q" pendicular distance.

2. A tenter clip comprising in combination, a body having a plate portion for supporting a web and a bearing portion disposed thereabove, a clamp bar pivotally connected to said bearing portion at a certain perpendicular distance from said plate portions and having a depending free end disposed above said plate which is provided with alternate grooves and web engaging ridges, the said ridges being equidistant from the said pivotal connection and at a distance therefrom which is greater than the said certain perpendicular distance whereby as one ridge becomes inoperative for a clamping action with said plate the next adjacent ridge may operate for the clamping action.

3. A tenter clip comprising in combination, a, body having a plate portion for supporting a web, a clamp bar pivotally connected to said body above said plate portion having a free end depending towards said plate for clamping a web thereto, the free end of said bar being provided with alternate edges and channels disposed parallel to the 1 axis of said pivotal connection and the said ridges being equidistant from said pivotal connection, the said pivotal connection of said. clamp bar and body being located at a certain perpendicular distancefrom said plate portion and the saidridges being disposed at a greater distance from the pivotal con nection than said certain perpendicular distance.

JOHN WILLIAMS. 

